Polio risks persist

The last reported cases of paralytic polio from the natural poliovirus in the United States occurred in 1979, but members of a new local Post Polio Support Group want people to know any child who is not immunized is at risk.

In 1952, polio struck a new victim every 10 minutes in the United States. It was every parent's nightmare. Vaccines were introduced and cases plummeted. But the disease still exists. And organizations say an outbreak is only a plane ride away. This week, The Star is sharing stories of those who suffered from polio, what support exists and profiles of those who are fighting to raise awareness and end polio forever.

The last reported cases of paralytic polio from the natural poliovirus in the United States occurred in 1979, but members of a new local Post Polio Support Group want people to know any child who is not immunized is at risk.

"Polio is a plane ride away," is the slogan the Post Polio Support Group in Cleveland County has printed on bright orange T-shirts.

Because people can be carriers of the virus, an unprotected child can come in contact with a person from a country where the natural poliovirus is still active.

"The risk you take when you don't have your child innoculated is great," said Janet Walker, a member of the support group.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that people traveling to certain countries check with their doctor to make sure their polio vaccine is up-to-date, said Alisa Leonard, nursing director with the Cleveland County Health Department.

"From 1980 through 1999, there were 162 confirmed cases of paralytic polio reported," Leonard said, citing the CDC website. "Of the 162 cases, eight cases were acquired outside the United States and imported. The remaining 154 cases were vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAPP) caused by live oral poliovirus vaccine. We no longer give the oral polio vaccine in the United States."

Leonard said the CDC does not keep statistics on how many children do not receive the polio vaccine.

"In North Carolina, exemptions are given for medical or religious reasons," she said. "A medical reason would be if the child is allergic to something in the vaccine or is being treated for a disease that would make them immune compromised."

Parents who seek an exemption because of religious reasons are required to sign a form, Leonard said.

According to the National Network for Immunization Information (www.immunizationinfo.org) all 50 states have school immunization laws and all 50 states allow vaccination exemptions for medical reasons; 48 states allow exemptions for religious reasons; and 19 states allow exemptions for philosophical reasons.

Mississippi and West Virginia are the only states that do not allow exemptions for religious reasons. The 19 states that allow exemptions for philosophical reasons are Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, California, Colorado, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

Page 2 of 2 - One study found, however, that on average, exemptors were 35 times more likely to contract measles than were vaccinated persons. A similar study estimated that exemptors were 22.2 times more likely to acquire measles and 5.9 times more likely to acquire pertussis (whooping cough) than vaccinated children.

What to learn more? Local Rotarians will present “Mount Kilimanjaro – Six Days Above the Clouds,” the story of the Rotary fundraising climb to eradicate polio at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mildred H. Keeter Auditorium at Cleveland Community College . Michael Cheng, Allen Langley, Tom McNichol, Mark Patterson and Bryan Baker will share their experiences of climbing the highest free-standing mountain in the world. This event is free and open to the public.

Post-Polio Support Group meeting

The Cleveland County Post-Polio Support Group will meet at the Golden Corral at 6 p.m. Monday. Guest speaker is Glenda Horton, a licensed massage and body work therapist. She will share common sense solutions to pain management that can be performed at home. Feel free to bring a caregiver with you.